Three Questions for Adaptable Problem Solvers

I was thinking about how I solve problems, and I realized that I often ask three questions. I thought I would share them with you.

First question:

What’s the next step?

I use this a lot on myself (grin), and in coaching. This question is useful when you think you’re stuck. You can almost always take one more step. I also use it when I’m exhausted and say, “Just one more step.”

Second question:

What else could I do?

This often prompts me to use the Rule of Three to generate some options. How else can I see this problem, to turn it sideways, upside down, or some other way?

Third question is about going meta:

If I knew what the answer was, what would it be?

That gets me thinking in some other direction, differently than the Rule of Three.

Problem solving is often non-linear. I use these tools often. I thought you might like them to help break the constraints of typical problem solving.